This month’s Comment is a question we answered on Quora.com…

Sorry to see Frank’s Transmission is closing. They weren’t any cheaper but they did good work and were very honest. Can I find another repair place as good?

Don’t know anything about Frank’s transmission, but this may help you or other folks find a quality replacement when their chosen shop closes.  You said Frank’s “…weren’t any cheaper, but they did good work and were very honest.”  That’s critical.  The cheaper a mechanic is, the less likely they can provide honesty and quality as well.

“Expensive” doesn’t guarantee quality, but it’s hard for a shop to be honest and good if they’re trying to be the cheapest as well.  Those cost savings have to come from somewhere, so cheap repairs almost always have dark sides like lower quality parts with shorter lifetimes, less skilled technicians doing shoddy work, thin warranties, or a business model that depends on shady ‘upsells’.

In our own shop, we use OEM parts or better, employ ASE-Master-Certified technicians and NON-COMMISSIONED Service Advisors, only sell services our clients actually need, and offer a 24-month/24000-mile warranty.  We can’t do that and still be price-competitive with Wacky Bill’s Cheapo Car Patching down the street.

If you’re looking for a good balance between quality and price, then ignore the “price” shops.  It’s almost impossible to find a non-commissioned shop these days, but find one if you can.  If you can’t, then find one with a mid-range shop rate for your area.   That won’t guarantee honesty or quality, but it will cut out some of the sharks.

There’s other things that can guide you… Here’s an article from our shop newsletter with some specific “Tips On Finding A Quality Auto Shop”.

OUR CURRENT SPECIAL OFFERS

Our across-the-board Covid discount has dropped to 20%, but it’s not too late for you to still save 25%.   If you’ve had service recommendations in your Tom Dwyer file since 1/31/21 (or before) but you just haven’t acted on them, then you can still save 25% off Labor Charges if you act on them before 4/30/21.  Even during a pandemic your vehicle needs consistent care, and Auto Amnesty is a great way to catch up on the services you may have been putting off.

Carbon Neutral Program–

Our company’s commitment to the environment led us to partner with Bonneville Environmental Foundation to create our Carbon Neutral Program in 2007. Client members offset the carbon production of their vehicles for one year AND save 10% on Labor Charges here at the shop! It’s a win for you AND our environment and it’s been very successful… since we instituted the program our members have prevented over 1.9 MILLION POUNDS of carbon from being dumped into our air!

Referral Reward Program–

Year after year, referrals from our existing clients are our greatest source of new clients, so we’ve tried hard to think of some way to appropriately reward people for their referrals.  Our solution is  our Referral Reward Program, where we make donations to the non-profit group of your choice to say ‘thanks’ for your generous referrals.  Here’s how it works…

Your reviews and referrals matter

We are constantly grateful for the supportive and loyal clients we have developed over the years.  Your comments and appreciation keep us on the right road to providing the superior automotive service you deserve.  Your reviews and referrals are not only the highest compliments we can receive, but they’re the lifeblood of our new business.  If you like what you’ve found at Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, please tell a friend or take a minute to write a review on Yelp, Angieslist, Google, or the review site of your choice. Thank you!

Latest Automotive Recalls

Automobiles are just like any other product; occasional flaws in manufacture or design can cause problems once they leave the factory.  When an issue is identified the manufacturers and government work hard to bring the vehicles back in for refit or repair, but not all recalls make the front pages.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a constantly updated list of recalls from every manufacturer.  The last month’s recalls are below, but clicking the button at right will take you to the full list at the NHTSA website.